Refillable pouch for food or beverage

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is a refillable aperture pouch for food or beverage comprising a refill-base and a lid; the refill-base and lid releasably connect; the refill-base allows the pouch to be refilled and allows access to the contents of the pouch through use of a utensil; an aperture is in the lid; the aperture pouch is adapted for use by children; the aperture pouch may be cleaned in a dishwasher; the aperture pouch may be hung on a rack by a cap, which cap connects to and seals the aperture; the aperture pouch may be refilled through use of a funnel; the funnel comprises an air-release channel.

BACKGROUND

Pouches and bags exist to hold food (broadly understood to includesolids, liquids, and transitional materials between solids and liquids,such as mixtures, suspensions, colloids and the like, which are eaten,drunk, or placed in the mouth). Pouches are known to exist to hold food,which food is in a liquid, semi-liquid, or paste form (hereinafter,“liquid food”). Pouches are known with apertures through which liquidfood may be poured, squeezed, or extruded (“aperture pouches”);consider, for example, a toothpaste tube or a tube containing anchovypaste or jelly.

Refillable aperture pouches are also known to exist. Such pouches areknown to comprise a bag with an opening on one side (the “opening side”)and an aperture on another side (the “aperture side”). In the knownexamples, the opening side is sealed with a clip which may be removed;when the clip is removed, the opening side may be opened to allow therefillable aperture pouch to be cleaned and refilled. Once filled, theopening side is then folded over and clipped, and then the liquid foodcan be poured or extruded through the aperture.

However, not known are refillable aperture pouches wherein the apertureside and the opening side are on the same side, in which the aperture isin a lid and the opening is in a refill-base and wherein the lid and therefill-base releasably connect, in which the refillable aperture pouchis adapted for use by children, in which the refillable opening allowsaccess to the contents by a utensil (such as a knife, fork, or spoon),in which the refillable aperture pouch may be hung on a rack by a capconnected to the lid, in which the refillable aperture pouch may bewashed in a dishwasher, and comprising a funnel with an air-releasechannel, to facilitate filling the aperture pouch.

SUMMARY

Disclosed is a refillable aperture pouch for food or beverage comprisinga refill-base and a lid; the refill-base and lid releasably connect; therefill-base allows the pouch to be refilled and allows access to thecontents of the pouch through use of a utensil; an aperture is in thelid; the aperture pouch is adapted for use by children; the aperturepouch may be cleaned in a dishwasher; the aperture pouch may be hung ona rack by a cap, which cap connects to and seals the aperture; theaperture pouch may be refilled through use of a funnel; the funnelcomprises an air-release channel.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of an embodiment, with the refill-base, lid,and cap connected.

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of an embodiment, with the refill-base andlid connected and the cap disconnected, though secured via the caplanyard.

FIG. 3 is an isometric view an embodiment, with the lid disconnectedfrom the refill-base and the cap disconnected from the lid, though eachbeing secured via the lid lanyard and the cap lanyard.

FIG. 4A is an elevation view of an embodiment with the refill-base, lid,and cap connected.

FIG. 4B is an elevation-section view of the embodiment illustrated inFIG. 4A, with the refill-base, lid, and cap connected.

FIG. 5A is an elevation view of an embodiment with the refill-baseconnected to the lid and the lid and cap disconnected, though beingsecured via the cap lanyard.

FIG. 5B is an elevation-section view of the embodiment illustrated inFIG. 5A, with the refill-base connected to the lid and the lid and capdisconnected, though being secured via the cap lanyard.

FIG. 6A is an elevation view of an embodiment with the refill-base, lid,and cap disconnected, though each being secured via, respectively, thelid lanyard and the cap lanyard.

FIG. 6B is an elevation-section view of the embodiment illustrated inFIG. 6A, with the refill-base, lid, and cap disconnected, though eachbeing secured via, respectively, the lid lanyard and the cap lanyard.

FIG. 7 presents a plan view of an embodiment in which the refill-base,lid, and cap are connected.

FIG. 8 presents a plan view of an embodiment in which the refill-baseand lid are connected and cap is disconnected, though the cap is securedvia a cap lanyard.

FIG. 9 presents a plan view of an embodiment in which the refill-base,lid, and cap are disconnected, though each being secured via,respectively, a lid lanyard and a cap lanyard.

FIG. 10A illustrates a plan view of an embodiment of the refill-base andlid.

FIG. 10B illustrates an elevation view of an embodiment of therefill-base and lid.

FIG. 11 illustrates a bottom isometric view of a cap.

FIG. 12A illustrates a top isometric view of a funnel.

FIG. 12B illustrates a bottom isometric view of a funnel.

FIG. 13A illustrates an elevation view of a funnel.

FIG. 13B illustrates a top plan view of a funnel.

FIG. 14 illustrates a top isometric view of a rack.

FIG. 15A illustrates an isometric view of a rack with componentsmissing, to illustrate interior components.

FIG. 15B illustrates an isometric view of a rack with componentsmissing, to illustrate interior components.

FIG. 15C illustrates an isometric view of a rack with componentsmissing, to illustrate interior components.

FIG. 15D illustrates an isometric view of a rack with componentsmissing, to illustrate interior components.

FIG. 16A illustrates an isometric view of a detail of a rack, withcomponents assembled.

FIG. 16B illustrates isometric view of a detail of a rack, withcomponents not assembled.

FIG. 17 illustrates a front elevation view of a rack.

FIG. 18 illustrates a side elevation view of a rack.

FIG. 19 illustrates an elevation view of a pouch with the outline of arack around the cap.

FIG. 20 illustrates an elevation view of a pouch with the outline of arack around the cap and showing the cap lanyard in relation to the rack.

FIG. 21 illustrates a plan view of a pouch with the outline of rails ofa rack on either side of the cap and showing the cap lanyard in relationto the rails.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The description of the drawings and the following detailed descriptionrefer to the accompanying drawings. The reference numbers in thisdetailed description begin with a two-digit number (or a two-digitnumber followed by an upper-case letter) which identifies the figure,followed by a dash character, followed by a three-digit number whichidentifies the feature or element. The same feature number in differentdrawing figures generally identifies the same or similar elements and/orcomponents. A reference to a feature may be to “#-ABC” where “ABC” isthe feature number and “#-” refers to all figures containing thefeature.

The following description provides specific details for an understandingof various examples of the technology. One skilled in the art willunderstand that the technology may be practiced without many of thesedetails. In some instances, structures and functions have not been shownor described in detail or at all to avoid unnecessarily obscuring thedescription of the examples of the technology. It is intended that theterminology used in the description presented below be interpreted inits broadest reasonable manner, even though it is being used inconjunction with a detailed description of certain examples of thetechnology. Although certain terms may be emphasized below, anyterminology intended to be interpreted in any restricted manner will beovertly and specifically defined as such in this Detailed Descriptionsection.

As used herein, “releasable,” “connect,” “connected,” “connectable,”“disconnect,” “disconnected,” and “disconnectable” refers to two or morestructures which may be connected or disconnected, generally without theuse of tools (examples of tools including screwdrivers, pliers, drills,saws, welding machines, torches, irons, and other heat sources) andgenerally in a repeatable manner. As used herein, “attach,” “attached,”or “attachable” refers to two or more structures or components which areattached through the use of tools or chemical or physical bonding. Asused herein, “secure,” “secured,” or “securable” refers to two or morestructures or components which are connected or attached and generallyis used in the context of lanyards which connect or attach twostructures or components.

As shown in FIG. 1, a pouch 01-000 is attached to a seal structure01-005. The pouch 01-000 may comprise one or more layers. The materialmay comprise three layers, such of polyethylene terephthalate, nylon,and polyethylene. The three layers may, together, be 0.13 mm thick.Types of plastic which may be used include polyethylene, polypropylene,polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride, polytetrafluoroethylene, polyamides,and polyester. The pouch 01-000 and seal structure 01-005 may be heat-or chemically-bonded. The seal structure 01-005 may be part of arefill-base 01-040 (see also FIGS. 4, 5, and 6). The refill-base 01-040may comprise the seal structure 01-005, a stationary flange 01-010, anda refill-neck 03-041. The lid 01-020 may comprise the lid 01-020, a pryflange 01-015, a retaining flange 02-065, a lid lanyard 01-030, and anaperture #-045 (see, for example, FIG. 2 and feature 02-045). The lid01-020 and the refill-base 01-040 may connect via a set of interlockingcompression rings (illustrated in FIG. 3 at features 03-070 and 03-075and in FIG. 6A and 6B at features 06A-070 and 06B-070 and 06B-075;illustrated in a connected condition in FIG. 4B at features04B-070/04B-075) or via a threaded connection similar to that shown onthe aperture #-045. The connection between the refill-base 01-040 andlid 01-020 may be tight enough to resist pressure developed inside ofthe pouch when squeezed, but not so tight that the refill-base 01-040and lid 01-020 cannot be disconnected by application of force generatedby a human hand or hands and applied to the pry flange #-015. Ifconnected via a set of interlocking compression rings, connection anddisconnection of the lid 01-020 and refill-base 01-040 may befacilitated by the stationary flange 01-010 and the pry flange 01-015;the stationary flange 01-010 and pry flange 01-015 may be manipulated bythe thumb and fingers on a single hand (one digit pushes down on thestationary flange 01-010 while another digit pushes up on the pry flange01-015) to generate sufficient force to disconnect the lid from therefill-base. A non-overlapping area may be provided, such as the areaidentified by the dashed line 08-050 in FIG. 8, between the structure ofthe stationary flange 01-010 and the structure of the pry flange 01-015,which non-overlapping area allows the fingers to generate sufficientleverage and force to disconnect the lid from the refill-base. Tofacilitate generation of sufficient leverage and force to disconnect thelid from the refill-base, the non-overlapping area may be enlarged by aconcave depression (when viewed from above) in the stationary flange;see FIG. 10A and element 10A-105.

The lid 01-020 may be secured to the refill-base 01-040 via the lidlanyard 01-030, which lid lanyard 01-030 may be made out of one or moreflexible materials. The lid lanyard 01-030 may comprise a thinnerportion to make it more flexible, such as the thinner portion 10B-100illustrated in FIG. 10B. The lid 01-020 and refill-base 01-040 mayfurther comprise seats #-055 (illustrated in FIG. 4 at element 04-055),which seats are formed by a close-fitting arrangement between therefill-neck 04-041 and the lid 04-020 and which seats facilitate theretention of food and liquid inside of the pouch 01-000 when the lid01-020 and refill-base 01-040 are connected.

Turning to FIG. 2, the lid 02-020 is illustrated as comprising theaperture 02-045. The aperture 02-045 is illustrated as being connectedto a cap 02-025 via a cap lanyard 02-035. The connection between theaperture 02-045 and the cap lanyard 02-035 may further comprise a ring02-060 (also illustrated in FIG. 11 at element 11-060), which ring mayconnect the cap lanyard 02-035 to the aperture 02-045 via a retainingflange 02-065 (which is illustrated as being part of the aperture02-045; also illustrated at 05B-065). The ring 02-060 may allow the cap02-025 and cap lanyard 02-035 to rotate around the aperture 02-045. Thecap 02-025 and aperture 02-045 may connect via, for example, a threadedconnection (as shown) or interlocking compression rings. The cap mayterminate on the threaded connection with the cap lanyard parallel tothe short axis of the pouch when viewed from above; see, for example21-035 and the discussion regarding FIGS. 19, 20, and 21, below.

FIG. 3 illustrates the lid 03-020 disconnected from the refill-base03-040, though remaining secured via the lid lanyard 03-030. FIG. 3 alsoillustrates the cap 03-025 being disconnected from the aperture 03-045;the cap 03-025 may remain connected to the aperture 03-045,notwithstanding that the lid 03-020 is disconnected from the refill-base03-040.

The pouch #-000 in the figures may be made of a flexible orsemi-flexible material, such as plastic, thermo-plastic, silicone,fabric, and/or one or more layers of material. The pouch may be .13 mmthick. The pouch #-000 may be collapsible. A hinged portion may allowthe bottom portion of the pouch to fold along a hinge 03-080.

FIGS. 4A, 4B, 5A, 5B, 6A, and 6B show elevation and elevation-sectionviews with features labeled according to the numbering scheme describedabove. The elevation-section views present a section along the midlineof the long axis the pouch #-000, when viewed from above. FIGS. 5A and5B also illustrates an aperture seat 05B-090 in and against which theaperture 05B-045 may seal when the cap 05B-025 is connected to theaperture 05B-045. FIGS. 6A and 6B illustrate that the compression ring06A-070 and 06B-070 may be female while the compression ring 06B-075 maybe male (the reverse may be an embodiment).

FIGS. 7, 8, and 9 show plan views with features labeled according to theabove discussion. As shown in FIG. 9, dashed-line 09-085 (which is alongthe short axis of the pouch #-000, when viewed from above), the fill-lid09-040 provides a relatively large opening. The relatively large openingmay allow the pouch #-000 to be refilled and/or may allow access to theinterior of the pouch via a finger, utensil, or via tipping and pouring.The large opening may also allow the pouch #-000 to be cleaned in adishwasher. The pouch #-000 may stand open, vertically oriented, andready to receive a food or beverage when placed on a counter or otherflat surface, notwithstanding that the pouch may be empty or bepartially empty.

Not shown, a spoon may be connected to the aperture #-045, which spoonmay comprise an opening in the structure which connects the spoon to theaperture. The opening in the structure which connects the spoon to theaperture may allow the contents of the pouch to be squeezed into thespoon for consumption or other purposes. If the pouch #-000 does notspring-back when released after being squeezed but remains in acollapsed or semi-collapsed state, then air will not be drawn into thepouch and subsequent squeezes of the pouch may result in additional foodor beverage being squeezed into the spoon.

FIG. 10A illustrates a plan view of an embodiment of the refill-base andlid. As discussed above, this view illustrates a concave depression, atelement 10A-105, which facilitates generation of sufficient leverage andforce to disconnect the lid from the refill-base.

FIG. 10B illustrates an elevation view of an embodiment of therefill-base and lid. As discussed above, this view illustrates that thelid lanyard 10B-030 may comprise a thinner portion, illustrated atelement 10B-100, to make it more flexible.

FIG. 11 illustrates a bottom isometric view of a cap, including ring11-060.

FIG. 12A illustrates a top isometric view of a funnel while FIG. 12Billustrates a bottom isometric view of a funnel, #-110. The funnel #-110is illustrated as comprising a handle #415, a graduated portion #420, atransitional portion #425, a continuous portion #-130 (also referred toherein as a “funnel neck), and an indentation #-135. The continuousportion #-130 of the funnel #-110 may be sized to be inserted into therefill-neck #-041, with the continuous portion #-130 coming to a stopwithin the interior of refill-neck #-041, with the top of therefill-neck #-041 contacting the transitional portion #-125 atapproximately the location marked by dotted line 13-126. The funnel maythen be used to fill the aperture pouch #-000. The indentation#-125extends above the top of the refill-neck #-041 and may allow air toescape from the pouch #-000 as the pouch #-000 is being refilled.

FIG. 13A illustrates an elevation view of a funnel while FIG. 13Billustrates a plan view of a funnel, with elements numbered according tothe discussion, above.

FIG. 14 illustrates a top isometric view of a rack, 14-140. The rack14-140 comprises a cantilever beam 14-141, a support post 14-150, aplatform 14-155, two rails 14-145, and two lips 14-160 at the ends ofthe rails.

FIG. 15A illustrates an isometric view of a rack with componentsmissing, to illustrate interior components. This view illustrates twomale boss members 15A-165, which may be used to guide the componentstogether during assembly (securing to female boss members 15B-166). Thisview illustrates a support post foot 15A-175 and a screw guide 15A-170.

FIG. 15B illustrates an isometric view of a rack with componentsmissing, to illustrate interior components. This view illustrates threefemale clip members 15B-180, which may be used to guide the componentstogether during assembly (securing to male clip member 15C-181), andfemale boss members 15B-166.

FIG. 15C illustrates an isometric view of a rack with componentsmissing, to illustrate interior components. This view illustrates threemale clip members 15B-181 and non-stick pads 15C-185.

FIG. 15D illustrates an isometric view of a rack with componentsmissing, to illustrate interior components. This view illustrates screw15D-190.

FIG. 16A illustrates an isometric view of a detail of a rack, withcomponents assembled. This view illustrates the male and female clipcomponents assembled into three clips 16A-200. The male clip componentsform a spring-loaded connection with the female clip components. Thisview also illustrates the lips 16A-160.

FIG. 16B illustrates isometric view of a detail of a rack, withcomponents not assembled.

FIG. 17 illustrates a front elevation view of a rack, with thecomponents discussed above numbered. In addition to the componentsdiscussed above, this view also labels arc 17-220 above rails 17-145.

FIG. 18 illustrates a side elevation view of a rack, with the componentsdiscussed above numbered. Dotted line 18-156 is more than the height ofpouch #-000 (excluding cap #-025) and illustrates that there is space inthe rack to hang the pouch #-000 by sliding the cap #-025 within the arc#-220 and between the rails #-145.

FIG. 19 illustrates an elevation view of a pouch (parallel to the longaxis of the rack when viewing an elevation) with the outline of thevault of a rack around the cap. This view illustrates arc 19-220 andthat cap 19-025 fits within the arc 19-220. This view also illustratesrails 19-145 with an exaggerated profile.

FIG. 20 illustrates an elevation view of a pouch with the outline of thevault of a rack around the cap and showing the cap lanyard in relationto the rack, parallel to the long axis of the rack. This viewillustrates that cap 20-025 has been screwed onto the threads onaperture #-045 to its terminus, leaving cap lanyard 20-035 between therails 20-145.

FIG. 21 illustrates a plan view of a pouch with the outline of rails ofa rack on either side of the cap and showing the cap lanyard in relationto the rails 21-145. This view illustrates that cap 21-025 has beenscrewed onto the threads on aperture #-045 to its terminus, leaving caplanyard 21-035 between the rails 21-145. In this Figure, dotted lines inthe rails 21-145 illustrate where the rails 21-145 pass beneath the cap21-025 (when viewed from above).

Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, throughout thedescription and the claims, the words “comprise,” “comprising,” and thelike are to be construed in an inclusive sense, as opposed to anexclusive or exhaustive sense; that is to say, in the sense of“including, but not limited to.” As used herein, the term “connected,”“coupled,” or any variant thereof means any connection or coupling,either direct or indirect between two or more elements; the coupling ofconnection between the elements can be physical, logical, or acombination thereof. Additionally, the words, “herein, ” “above,”“below,” and words of similar import, when used in this application,shall refer to this application as a whole and not to particularportions of this application. When the context permits, words in theabove Detailed Description using the singular may also include theplural while words using the plural may also include the singular. Theword “or,” in reference to a list of two or more items, covers all ofthe following interpretations of the word: any of the items in the list,all of the items in the list, and any combination of one or more of theitems in the list.

The above detailed description of embodiments of the refillable pouch isnot intended to be exhaustive or to limit the refillable pouch to theprecise form disclosed above. While specific embodiments of, andexamples for, the refillable pouch are described above for illustrativepurposes, various equivalent modifications are possible within the scopeof the system, as those skilled in the art will recognize.

1. A refillable aperture pouch for food, comprising: a lid with anaperture; a releasable connection between the lid and a refill-base, therefill-base comprising an opening into a pouch; and the pouch attachedto the refill-base; wherein the pouch is a flexible material.
 2. Thepouch according to claim 1, further comprising a cap attachable to thelid.
 3. The pouch according to claim 2, wherein the cap attaches to thelid via a threaded connection.
 4. The pouch according to claim 2,wherein the cap attaches to the lid via a compression fitting.
 5. Thepouch according to claim 2, further comprising a first lanyardconnecting the cap to the lid.
 6. The pouch according to claim 5,wherein the lid comprises a retaining flange, the first lanyard isattached to the cap and connects the cap to the lid via a ring in thelanyard, which ring connects the cap to the lid below the retainingflange.
 7. The pouch according to claim 1, further comprising a secondlanyard attaching the lid and the refill-base.
 8. The pouch according toclaim 1, wherein the releasable connection between the lid andrefill-base comprises a set of interlocking compression rings.
 9. Thepouch according to claim 1, wherein the pouch comprises two side panels,attached to one another along the perimeter of both sides.
 10. The pouchaccording to claim 9, wherein the pouch comprises a third panel attachedto the two side panels, distal to the refill-base and substantiallyperpendicular to the two panels.
 11. The pouch according to claim 3,wherein the termination point of the cap on the threaded connectionplaces a lanyard attaching the cap and lid substantially along the shortplan-view axis of the pouch when the cap is fully threaded onto thethreaded connection.
 12. The pouch according to claim 2, furthercomprising a rack.
 13. The pouch according to claim 12, wherein the rackholds the pouch by the cap between two rails separated by an opening.14. The pouch according to claim 13, wherein, when viewed along the rackshort axis, the two rails are spanned by a vault, and wherein theinterior height of the vault is greater than the height of the cap. 15.The pouch according to claim 13, wherein the rails comprise a lip. 16.The pouch according to claim 13, wherein the pouch slides between therails in the opening.
 17. The pouch according to claim 13, wherein therails are supported at one end by a post, forming a cantilever.
 18. Thepouch according to claim 13, wherein the opening between the rails isnarrower than the base of the cap and wider than the aperture.
 19. Thepouch according to claim 12, wherein the rack comprises two halvesconnected by a clip.
 20. The pouch according to claim 19, wherein thetwo halves are attached by a boss.
 21. The pouch according to claim 2,further comprising a funnel.
 22. The pouch according to claim 21,wherein the funnel comprises a graduated portion narrowing to a funnelneck, which funnel neck fits into the refill- base.
 23. The pouchaccording to claim 22, wherein an indentation in the funnel forms achannel between the refill-base and the funnel.
 24. The pouch accordingto claim 23, wherein the indentation spans from the base of the funnelneck to a location between the top of the funnel neck and the top of thegraduated portion.